Tilting concrete mixer



5 1969 .0. J. OCONNELL 3,421,744

TILTING CONCRETE MIXER Filed Aug. 21, 1967 Sheet of'2 INVENTOR. Dfifll'l. 0 roan/41.

Jan. 14,1969- D. J.OCONNELL $421,744

TILTING CONCRETE MIXER Filed Aug. 21, 1967 Sheet. 3 of 2 I INVENTOR. 04mm. J CONMLL United States Patent 3,421,744 TILTING CONCRETE MIXER Daniel J. OConnell, Erie, Pa., assignor to Erie Strayer Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 661,980 US. Cl. 259171 8 Claims Int. Cl. B28c 7/16; B28c /20 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention involves a mixer having a drum mounted from a supporting structure at a low elevation above ground when in the mixing position, yet high enough when tilted to discharge into a truck resting on the same ground level. The drum is tilted horizontally and out to reduce overhang of mixer support columns yet giving sufficient clearance between truck and support columns. All of this is accomplished without the use of overhead suspensions.

This invention relates to mixers and, more particularly, to the type of mixer commonly known as a concrete mixer.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved concrete mixer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concrete mixer that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efiicient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixer having a mixing drum on a supporting structure sup ported in such a way that it is located at a most minimum elevation above the ground level and may be tilted to a high enough position to discharge into a truck without depressing the driveway supporting or raising the mixing plant above the truck. The mixer drum is so tilted that it is far enough out horizontally from the frame to permit substantially reducing overhang of mixer support on columns, and yet provide proper clearance between truck and mixer support columns, all without an overhead suspension system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable concrete mixer with no overhead suspension system.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the mixer according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mixer, shown partly schematically to better illustrate the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the mixer shown has a supporting frame having the lower transverse beam 11, the side columns 10, which stops forward travel of drum at extreme end. The mixer drum 15 is supported in a cradle 16 that has the side member posts 27 with the motor 18 supported on them. The motor 18 rotates the drum through the ring gear 17 and the idler 20. The idler is supported Ibetween the pinion 19 and the ring gear 17.

The drum 15 has the frusto-conical ends 21 and 22 with the discharge opening 23. The posts 27 make up the cradle and are connected by the cross beam 28.

A motor 29 and pump 30 supply hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic cylinder 41. Cylinder 41 is of a type familiar to those skilled in the art. It has a suitable piston and "ice piston rod of the type generally used in the type of mixer disclosed. The cylinder 41 is pivotally connected to the support frame 11 and 43 at its lower end, and its piston rod is connected to the cradle at 34 and to the bracket 50 on the cradle at 46. The link 14 is connected to the cradle at 34 and to the supporting frame at 36. The front arm 32 is pivotally connected to the frame at 33 and to the cradle at 31. The lower end of the post 27 rests on the supporting frame when the mixer is in the normal mixing position as shown in FIG. 2 in full lines.

The mixer may be swung to the dumping position by operating cylinder 41 which will cause the piston rod to extend to the position shown in FIG. 1, thus bringing the mixer up so its central line is approximately forty-five degrees to the horizontal. Thus, it will dump into the hopper 14, which is attached to the frame by arms 13. The mixer completely eliminates all overhead transverse structure members used for cradle support and pivot points for tilting control means. It results in a lower over-all mixer center of gravity and reduces both installation and travel trailer height. It lowers the pivot points for tilting means to frame base for more effective force distribution through frame supporting structure. It allows more effective use of tilting cylinders in that the full piston area is used, thus reducing material size, weight, and load requirements, and the elimination of the so-called suspending type structure in favor of a low profilepivoted structure, which provides both means for support holding and control and means for the tilting action. The low profile structure with support type tilt members allows mixer drum discharge opening to follow a smooth trajectory, allowing a near uniform discharge of concrete. This trajectory is not related to a fixed pivot point. Thus, discharge opening moves forward from normal position, yet maintains minimum off-center distance to provide maximum height and distance from mixer frame and frame support structure.

The trajectory of the drum discharge reduces opening area for concrete receiving equipment and allows concrete receiving equipment to be minimum distance from the discharge opening.

It eliminates constraint on the drum and initial tilt, however, tilt action to enable full discharge is accomplished without tilt angle limits.

Elimination of holding concrete in mixer drums through initial tilt angle is accomplished, thus reducing the load conditions on all components.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A mixer comprising a rotatable mixing drum, having a discharge opening at its forward axial end,

a generally U-shaped upwardly opening cradle,

means supporting said drum in said cradle to rotate about its axis,

a supporting framework,

means mounting said drum and cradle on said framework from a mixing position to a discharge position at which the rear end of said drum is elevated and the discharge end of said drum is lowermost,

said mounting means comprising,

spaced front arms attached to said framework at their lower ends and attached to said cradle at their upper ends,

a spaced downwardly and rearwardly extending guide link attached to said framework at its lower end and attached to said cradle at its rear end,

spaced generally upwardly extending hydraulic cylinders attached to said framework at their lower ends and attached to said cradle at their upper ends,

said hydraulic cylinder being adapted to force said drum upwardly and forwardly to a dumping position at which position said front arms extend generally vertically.

2. The mixer recited in claim 1 wherein the drum has a generally cylindrical midsection and frusto-conical ends, the axis of said cylindrical midsection is disposed normally generally horizontally and disposed at approximately forty-five degrees to the horizontal when in dumping position.

3. The mixer recited in claim 1 wherein the forward most end of said guide link is disposed adjacent to the forwardmost end of said forward arm and slightly to the rear and below it.

4. The mixer recited in claim 3 wherein the upper end of said cylinder is disposed adjacent the rearward end of said front arm.

5. The mixer recited in claim 3 wherein the upper end of said cylinder is disposed adjacent the center of said cylindrical part of said mixer.

6. The mixer recited in claim 5 wherein two said guide links and two said cylinders are provided and,

said upper end of said cylinders are attached to the upper ends of said cradles.

7. The mixer recited in claim 1 wherein said cradle rests on said framework when said drum is in normal mixing position.

8. The mixer recited in claim 1 wherein 7 said drum has means to rotate it in said cradle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,()21,122 2/1962 Maxon 259-171 ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 259-177 

